The only way you could do this would be to have a PNG national side playing all its home matches in Sydney. But I'm not sure what the point of that would be, especially as it'd be a matter of minutes before they started buying in local Aussies to play for them.

It's astonishing that PNG has any form of organised sport, and it's great that it's RL, but it's the equivalent of saying that if RL takes off in Lebanon, then we should stick a Beirut team in the SL.

Oh God, don't give anyone any ideas.

I would think there would be a lot more chance of a professional side in Beirut than Port Moresby to be honest.

Thr NRL/RLIF would be foolish not to utilise this opportunity to advance the game in PNG in some way. Whilst a NRL team is a long long way off, a new stadium for regular internationals, PNG team back in teh Q'land cup and some lobbying with teh Aus givt to relax working visas for young players to get more chances in the Australian leagues are all real possibilities. An improved PNG alongside an improved France will lead to a 5 nations that would be a big positive for RL. www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/k ... 5805507098 The problem with Australian RL is they see it as all or nothing rather than building from the grass roots up. Sound familiar?

Thr NRL/RLIF would be foolish not to utilise this opportunity to advance the game in PNG in some way. Whilst a NRL team is a long long way off, a new stadium for regular internationals, PNG team back in teh Q'land cup and some lobbying with teh Aus givt to relax working visas for young players to get more chances in the Australian leagues are all real possibilities. An improved PNG alongside an improved France will lead to a 5 nations that would be a big positive for RL. www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/k ... 5805507098 The problem with Australian RL is they see it as all or nothing rather than building from the grass roots up. Sound familiar?

ive always supported a PNG NRL team.

the NRL has a lot of expansion options and needs to take all of them.

the options include :

central coast, wellington, PNG, perth and at least 2 more queensland clubs

when the nrl delivers on all these clubs well be massive

we spent the past 13 years recovering from the SL war and slowly getting back to shape. when we are in a position of outright expansion like we were in 1995 well be unbeatable.

the success of the gold coast titans shows expansion is very important to our future

each expansion clubs brings different benefits to the game. some increase TV revenues more than others.

but the chance to bring in 6 million more fans to the NRL is something we cant ignore

first step is a Queensland cup team for a few years then onto the NRL.

i posted this on the nrl section previously : www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/ ... 5805507098 with government backing behind them it can only strengthen their bid

i posted this on the nrl section previously : www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/ ... 5805507098 with government backing behind them it can only strengthen their bid

www.pngnrlbid.com/

www.pngnrlbid.com/

In PNG there's also 150,000 people playing RL,surely the NRL must look at this and let them have a team!

I mean where in the world besides PNG is RL a nations number 1 sport!

Why on earth would you Poms want PNG to become a stronger side?

They came within a whisker of beating you in Townsville (and to be honest they probably should have won)

Do you seriously want to slip even further down the RLIF rankings?

I care more about world RL than my own national side.

Being an England supporter you HAVE to say that.

Maybe thats why your national team havent won anything since the 1970's?

Nothing to do with that. I care about world RL more than Wigan... that won't change even if we start winning things again.

I would love more than anyone else to see RL played to a high level in as many countries as possible.

I applaud your love of the game but sadly it's not going to happen.

RL is a sport that is only reasonably popular in the North of England, along the east coast of Australia and in PNG.

Thats about it. And thats the way it will always be.

so it isnt popular in a country where its the national sport?

Disagree, the south of france is buzzing, I have friends who were season ticket holders at Lyon and now watch catalans as much as they can instead, many people around the country are behind them also. The same will happen when Toulouse get in super league, and then if the paris team can be 1/4 of the success then RL will take off even more in France.

You know my opinions on PNG.

North of England yes, but there are other success stories as well. There is still potential for other areas.

In Australia the NRL is massive and will continue to grow, its the best product in the world to sell!

There is plenty of potential for growth in NZ as well, their national side has just as much quality as aus, this is great for the game.

Wales is in such early stages in terms of the modern game, give them time, yes they will never be as big as Wigan and Leeds but surely it won't do any harm to have as many smaller clubs as possible playing the game even if they do only get small crowds, it will also do wonders for the Welsh international game.

There has been talk of Scotland and Ireland getting in on the super league act in years to come.

Look how well Ireland did in the WC, all be it with foreign players but their is potential.

Just go on Wikipedia and find out how many different countries rugby league is played in, I am not saying they will all develop competitions like the NRL as big as that but there is potential for smaller leagues and then building blocks for bigger competitions and inspiration to take into the international game.

I am not saying RL will take over the world, but it is currently no where near its potential, RU is making the most of what it's got, we however, are not.

I disagree in the long term they have the potential to be bigger, as they represent a nation,a nation with a love of rugby (admittadley manily union at this time), if they they can realise that potential is the question.

Sorry but Leeds and Wigan have been building for over 100 years. Even in that time maybe they will grow but they will never be able to take 30,000 to a cup final because everyone loves Union. Wigan and Leeds will get bigger in time as well.

spoken like a true shirefolk! Sadly it's the same attitude that has meant 100 hundred years on the game is still largely confined to the areas you mention. There's a spot on the NRL commision and the RLIF for you!

I want to try and explain this as simply as I can....it seems certain people don't get it.

This 'expansion' thing...it hasn't worked...and it wont.


I like milk chocolate

I don't like white chocolate

So someone decides to tell me from now on I have to start liking white chocolate.....and they run a big campagin to tell me I must start liking it.

But I don't.

And I never will.


So naturally I tell them to go forth and multiply.

Then I just continue buying milk chocolate.

The people that told me I had to start liking white chocolate wonder why their product didnt sell....and go bust.



This is Rugby Leagues idea on expansion.

You will NEVER be able to force upon the people that which they do not like.

EVER.

Yes union is more popular but isnt the whole exercise about converting this love of union to a love of league as well? how do you know how many they will be able to take to a cup final in say 20 years?

strange i thought australia took to rl rather well after we expanded the game over there.

or how about this.

You love milk chocolate

You've had milk chocolate all your life and think its the best ever. However milk chocolate is all you've ever tasted and as much as you love it it has become normal.

Then someone comes along and tells you that there is a new chocloate, white chocolate. They sell it in such a way that it sounds brilliant and you are all excited about tasting it. AFter the first bite you realise that it is actually very very good. Whilst you may always remain a milk chocolate lover you come to appreciate that there is aplace in your life for white chocolate and forever more indulge in it. If only you had had the opportunity to try white chocolate when you was younger!

Fortunately Barry the majority of people out there are more open minded and , to some degree more gullible to advertising and influnce!

I'm realistic at least.

In the near term we arent going to get 30,00 fans but how do you know what will happen in 20 years? if you have tried to sell the idea of sl to someone in 1976 they would have had you sectioned. You havent given me one reason why they cant get such attendances in 20 years. Maybe they will, maybe they wont but i see no reason to right them off before they have even really started.

I have. Too many people love Union and are arrogant to league. There will never be enough fans for that to happen. Even Hudds, the birthplace of RL cannot take 30,000 fans to wembley.